2011 BMW M6 Lewiston ME

The M6 lies at the intersection of supercar, GT and sports coupe. It brings performance and styling cues from all three segments to create a car that is unlike any other on the market, and as such, will only appeal to a very specific – and very affluent – group of consumers.

2011 BMW M6

January 13, 2010 By Brian Alexander, Road Test Editor 2010 BMW M6

2010 BMW M6 DriverSide OverviewAttempting to figure out just what exactly the BMW M6 is can prove a daunting task. Is it a supercar? It’s a bit too heavy, slightly too luxurious and just a hair slow to qualify by today’s frankly ridiculous standards, so no, it’s not a supercar. Is it a GT, a stately luxo-barge used for long, comfort-filled hauls across entire states or countries? Well, it’s a little too stiffly sprung and a bit too manic, so no, it’s not a GT. So it has to be a sports coupe, right? Again, it falls a bit off mark, being too large and heavy to be considered a modern sports coupe. BMW has the M3 for that.

Instead, the M6 lies at the intersection of supercar, GT and sports coupe. It brings performance and styling cues from all three segments to create a car that is unlike any other on the market, and as such, will only appeal to a very specific – and very affluent – group of consumers. Within the stately shell of the 6-Series lies an M-inspired interior with deep sports seats, ahead of which sits an engine that appears to have been snagged from a Formula One parts crate and an automated manual gearbox that feels a bit antiquated in today’s market. It’s a fun car to say the least, but just what exactly it defines itself as, we can’t say for sure.

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What's to LikeThe manic power delivery of the M6 is highly addictive, and above 6,000 rpm the engine is terrifyingly rampant, delivering a Formula One howl unlike anything else in the segment. Inside, it’s very luxurious, with an array of available leather choices and all the tech one could hope for.

What's Not to LikeWhen the M6 was released, BMW’s SMG automated manual transmission may have been at the top of its game, but today much better technologies exist (including BMW’s own M DCT) and the SMG feels too jerky and unpredictable for daily use. The rear seats are absolutely useless and fuel economy is painfully poor around town. Paying a $3K gas-guzzler tax is never fun.

The Drive:DriverSide Driving ImpressionsWhile the top-heavy powerband of the M6 doesn’t feel like anything special around town – if you’ve every owned a five-cylinder engine you will notice an induction note that’s immediately familiar – find an empty stretch of road (or, preferably, racetrack) where you can pin the throttle and you’ll discover it hides its magic above 6,000 rpm, at which point it slams you back in your seat on the way to its surreal 8,000 rpm redline. With the M button activated, it’s good for 500 horsepower, and it feels like every single one of them subsists exclusively on Red Bull. Chassis feedback isn’t at the level of say, an M3, and grip levels are so high that you won’t...

For a giant, clearly compromised vehicle, the X6 M manages to feel surprisingly agile, and the ample turbo torque means massive acceleration is available whenever you please. It’s a fantastic tourer, with very comfortable seats and a supple ride when you want it.